The Hold Steady, performing April 11 at the Urban Lounge, will be touring via bus -- and it's about time.

The Brooklyn-based -- but primarily Minnesota-raised -- musicians have been critical and cult favorites ever since the literate band released its 2004 debut, "Almost Killed Me."

But commercial success has eluded the band, although successive albums such as 2005's "Separation Sunday," 2006's "Boys and Girls in America" and 2008's "Stay Positive" have continued to bring in heaps of praise, most notably when an Entertainment Weekly music critic dubbed "Stay Positive" the best album of 2008.

"Critics have helped us sell records," said Craig Finn, lyricist and lead singer of the band, which might see its highest album debut ever this week as its first live album and DVD package, "A Positive Rage," was released April 7.

"It's happened pretty naturally," said guitarist Tad Kubler about the band's slowly -- but steadily -- growing success. Hence that tour bus, rather than van.

Ironically, the release of the live album and DVD of the band depicts the musicians back in 2007, when they started to gain a sizable cult audience. The live album is a recording of a Halloween show in Chicago, and the DVD follows the band behind-the-scenes during that turbulent time. "It was the first moment when we crossed into something bigger," Finn said. "It captures some of the feeling of community the fans had."

The band, building upon Finn's barked-yet-commanding vocals, sounds fierce. That's despite having the cultured effect of a keyboard player, along with the standard hard-rock ensemble of bass, guitars and drums. "It's interesting to put a bookmark on those times," Kubler said. "It was a wild time."

The Hold Steady's opening band is The War on Drugs, with lead singer and guitarist Adam Granduciel claiming Finn's band earned the tour bus, on account of The Hold Steady having been "gas-station warriors" the past several years because of nonstop touring.

The War on Drugs still has a van, but Granduciel hopes the Philadelphia-based indie rock band (with a sound reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and, oddly enough, My Bloody Valentine) will soon graduate to tour-bus status. But he admits the three-piece band has only been playing together since August.

Like The Hold Steady, they might have to wait a while until they achieve transportation success.